CHICOPEE – Roger P. “Gitchie” Gauthier, 81, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Friday, October 2, 2015. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on January 27, 1934, a beloved son of the late Maurice Joseph Gauthier and Estelle Noel (Bessett) Gauthier. He was raised in Holyoke and graduated from the former Holyoke Trade High School. He later moved to South Hadley before moving to Fairview in 1962. Roger was a longtime Tractor Trailer Truck Driver and belonged to the Teamster’s Local 404. He drove for many area companies and had last worked for Roadway Express in Springfield before retiring in 1994. He attended Lifepoint Church in Chicopee. He was a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus in Chicopee where he volunteered for many years at their monthly spaghetti suppers. He was also a member of the Chicopee Lodge of Elks and the Holyoke Revolver Club. During his leisure time, Roger enjoyed golfing with his friends at the Holyoke Country Club, boating, bicycling and keeping active. During the winter months, Roger and his wife, Nancy, enjoyed soaking up the sun with their many friends in Englewood, Florida. Most of all, Roger was a wonderful provider to his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Nancy C. (Smolen) Gauthier. They were married on September 6, 1958 at the former Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke and were blessed with over 57 years of happiness together. He also leaves his two loving children, Debra A. Marcotte and her husband, Paul, of Chicopee and Gary R. Gauthier and his wife, Machel, of Hebron, CT; his four cherished grandchildren, Katelyn (Marcotte) Joly and her husband, James, Kristen Marcotte, and twin grandsons, Joshua and Ryan Gauthier; his cherished great-granddaughter, Evelyn Joly; his dear brother, Donald Gauthier and his wife, Laura, of South Hadley; his three dear sisters, Barbara Seiffert of Holyoke, Eunice “June” Davis and her husband, Norman, of Georgia, and Cassandra Heroux and her husband, Donald, of Chicopee; his step-mother-in-law, Rosa Smolen and his step sister-in-law, Audrey Smolen, both of South Hadley; and his many nephews, nieces, cousins and extended members of the Gauthier and Smolen families. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his dear sister, Phyllis McNamara. Services will be private at the convenience of his family. There are no visiting hours at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, (please specify Springfield), 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com